Rota, Spain

When we picture Europe, what comes to mind? Cobblestone streets, houses and apartment buildings crammed closely together with thousands of people on scooters and tiny cars zooming past each other with no regard to traffic laws. I was fortunate to find a great city that doesn't have all of that crazy hustle and bustle that we associate with mainstream Europe.  

As of 2012, Rota has a population of 29,094 & is located near the Straits of Gibraltar (Atlantic side).  With such a low population, it would seem obvious why Rota doesn't have the overcrowded streets.  However, Rota is also the home of a joint U.S./Spanish Navy base.  The first thing I noticed was the city not being defined by the military base. Unlike other military-based cities like Naples, Rota has been able to maintain its independence and rich cultural history. Castillo de Luna is a beautiful ancient fortress which currently houses the local municipality. 

O'Grady's Irish Bar was the local hotspot for visiting Sailors.  They have an excellent setting, and the coolest bar I have ever seen.  The walls are completely covered with $1 bills written on by visiting service members. Aircraft squadrons and ships (some long since decommissioned) gives you a window to the past.  Some were dedicated to family and girlfriends, others were disgruntled messages regarding a specific deployment or cheating lovers back home, but the majority had the name of ships or squadrons and the Sailors that wrote them. I really enjoyed reading what people wrote on these bills.  The oldest dollar I found was from the 60's.  The drinks were great, as was the staff and setting.  I highly recommend stopping by!

Stay tuned for a future posting about Palma de Mallorca! 

-J